Featherweight fibre-reinforced Pavilion by Suttgart University researchers

"The latest in a series of research pavilions in Stuttgart has now been realised. Taking its approach and design from the field of bionics, the 2014/2015 version is inspired by the way in which the diving bell water spider constructs a reinforced air bubble to survive under water....In this year’s case an initially flexible pneumatic formwork was gradually stiffened by reinforcing it with carbon fibres from the inside.

A film on the project and further information can be accessed here."

from DETAIL.

Bunker 599 by RAAAF and Atelier de Lyon

"...a redundant Second World War bunker in the Netherlands was turned into a sculptural visitor attraction by slicing it down the middle to reveal its insides.... It took 40 days to slice through the solid concrete bunker, which was one of 700 constructed along the New Dutch Waterline, a series of water-based defences used between 1815 and 1940 to protect the cities of Muiden, Utrecht, Vreeswijk and Gorinchem."

from dezeen.

David Adjaye Talk May 20th

Dream Builders: David Adjaye

20 May 2014 

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Venue: RIBA, 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD

"David Adjaye has been described as an architect with an 'artist's sensibility'. His internationally renowned buildings are defined by his bold use of innovative materials and a diverse colour palette which reflect an equally strong interest in landscape and terrain.

From his pioneering 'Ideas Store' library buildings in the UK, to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver , to The Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, London, to the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum for African American History and Culture in Washington DC, his work is imbued with, and inspired by, the stories of people and dynamics of place.

In 2007, he was awarded an OBE for services to architecture and in 2013 he topped the Guardian's "Powerlist" of Britain’s most influential black people. He currently has projects underway in Ghana, Nigeria, America, China and the Middle East.

In partnership with the BBC, the RIBA brings you an opportunity to direct questions to David Adjaye as he is interviewed by Razia Iqbal about his approach to building, his many journeys and the projects and experiences that have defined him.

A recording of the event will be broadcast by the BBC World Service."

Fees: £5 Standard

Tickets here.

Alison and Peter Smithson: House for the Future, 1956

British architects Alison and Peter Smithsons’ moulded plastic House of the Future prototype for the 1956 Daily Mail Ideal Home Show embodied  pop principles for a technologically driven age.  Throughout its exhibition (sponsored by the Daily Mail in the Kensington Hall, London) models dressed in sportswear by designer Teddy Tinling cordially explained the operation of various electronic devices and technological advances in the house.

'Second Nature'

Second Nature is a 20-minute documentary on skater and budding landscape architect, Janne Saario of Finland. The short film allows a glimpse of Saario’s thoughts and dreams, which float between design, art and skateboarding. Though it also reveals the important concurrence of post-industrial areas, sustainable concepts and natural environments, and unfolds the demanding obligation, towards today’s generation and those to come, to create positive and inspiring, local communities.

Dwell says: "Saario started skating when he was six, eventually got sponsored, and through his experience riding around the world he developed an interest in designing landscapes. He's got his own firm now, with a specialty in skate parks."

Serpentine Pavilion 2013 at Kensington Gardens (until 20 October)

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013 is designed by multi award-winning Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto.

Occupying some 350 square-metres of lawn in front of the Serpentine Gallery, Sou Fujimoto's delicate, latticed structure of 20mm steel poles will have a lightweight and semi-transparent appearance that will allow it to blend, cloud-like, into the landscape and against the classical backdrop of the Gallery's colonnaded East wing. Designed as a flexible, multi-purpose social space - with a café sited inside - visitors will be encouraged to enter and interact with the Pavilion in different ways throughout its four-month tenure in London's Kensington Gardens.

Until 20 October 2013, Open to the public, free admission.

King's Cross Filling Station by Carmody and Groarke

Architects Carmody Groarke have transformed an abandoned canal-side petrol station in north London into a temporary restaurant and events space with fluted walls.

More at dezeen.

Bamboo Booth 2012 by Vo Trong Nghia

This exposition booth was exhibited in the “Vietnam Architecture Exhibition 2012″, held in Hanoi for 5 days in April, 2012.

With the dimension of 3 x 8.6 m rectangle and 4.2-meter high and more than 10-ton weight, the booth was constructed in two days by using approximately 500 bamboos as the only material.

from archdaily.

Invitation: Pavilion of Protest

Organizers are looking for volunteers from University of Westminster to take part in a project at the RIBA, where students are asked to draw for 2 hour slots about architectural education. They are particularly looking for volunteers to fill daytime slots i.e. before 4pm, between now and next Thursday.

Click poster above for opening times and booking details.


addition:  Btw, I just stopped by this morning and this is what the drawing desk looks like at the Pavilion: